Table device



March 14, 1944.V l A. T. JQRY 2,344,149

' l TABLE DEVICE Filed'July 2,9. 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1' [NVENTOR Anruf/R 7T JORY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES JTENT OFFICE TABLE DEVICE Arthur T. Jory, Oakland, Calif.

Application July 29, 1940, Serial No. 348,226

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a device for tables to be used by the patrons of a restaurant or lunch room or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a table unit which includes a wall or partition element for use in defining separate patron and waiter zones With respect to the table.

Another object is to provide for the service of patrons at the table entirely through an opening in the wall element.

A further object isY to provide for a Icleaning of the table top and the removal of crumbs and the like therefrom entirely through said wall opening.

Yet another object is to provide a crumb drawer as part of the table unit for receiving crumbs and the like as they are moved from the table top through said service opening.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention, and in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an outside perspective view showing table units of my invention as utilized in refreshment booths.

Figure 2 is an inside perspective View "of the structure of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an outside end view of a table unit embodying the present features of invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary inside view of the assembly of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the unit, a portion of the table top being broken out.

Figure is a side elevation of the unit.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken at the line 'I--l in Figure 4.

In restaurants and lunch rooms, it has been a general custom to provide for the movement of both the patrons and waiters over the same floor areas leading to tables, whereby, to avoid confusion, more floor space must be provided about the tables than is required for the patrons alone, this 'being true for tables both within and without booths. Furthermore, in wiping olf such tables after their use by patrons, the crumbs and condiment and food particles left thereon frequently fall upon the floor to create an untidy and unhygienic condition thereat. In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing and other disadvantages of the usual arrangement are eliminated by providing for service and cleaning lat a table from an end thereof and from a floor area which is not to be used by a patron.

As particularly illustrated, the features of the present invention are incorporated in and/or associated with a table 9 comprising a top I I supported at its outer end by a single leg I2. A wall or partition panel I3 is provided across the inner table end to support the same, and preferably extends above the horizontal plane 'of vision of a patron seated at the table. In the present showing, the panels I3 define the inner ends of booth spaces which are further dened between selfsupporting partitions I4 provided at opposite sides of the table; such partitions :may extend to the top level of the panels I3 ror be of lesser height, as shown. The present partitions I4 comprise the backs of seats I5 which extend from them, the panels I3 bein-g long enough for the abutment `of the partitions vI4 againstA their outer faces when the seats are appropriately positioned with respect to the tables 'for their use thereat. It will be understood that individual chairs might be used in place of the benches, and that the partitions I4 may be dispensed with if booths are not desired. By placing a succession of table units 9 with their panels I3 in edge to edge relation, a wall 4may be provided from which the tables extend, such an arrangement to provide a succession of booths being indicated in Figures l and 2.

Opposite the table ends which it abuts, each panel I3 is provided with an opening I5 which receives the engaged end of the table top for at least a major portion of its width, said opening extending upwardly from the plane of the top surface of the table and providing access to the table top from the inner side of the partition. Preferably, andas shown, the opening I6 is of slightly less width'than the table top I I, the latter being mortised into the material of the panel and suitably secured to the panel as by gluing and nailing. The table II may be of a size to accommodate up to two persons at each side thereof.

A closure is provided for the lower part Vof the opening I6 and is preferably removable from said opening. As particularly shown, the closure for the opening I6 comprises a door orgate Il provided with an intermediate opening I8 extending from its lower edge intermediately of the opening whereby, when the door Il isgdisposed across the opening, free access is provided to the rear edge of the table top centrally thereofl said shelf being arranged for the temporary support of dishes and other articles and being at a height which will just permit the reaching thereover to all of the table top by a waiter standing at the inner side of the panel i3; a table Il for serving through the opening i6 may be of a size to accommodate up to two adults at each side thereof. The door opening l may be utilized during a wiping off of the table top, the removed crumbs and the like being pushed through this opening t0 the inner table extremity for their removal.

The present table unit mounts a tray or drawer 2l for extension beyond the inner table end to receive the material which is being wiped from the table top. As shown, the tray 2| comprises a drawer which is slidably mounted on and beneath the table top in normally closed position. Besides providing a crumb tray, the drawer 2i may also provide a compartment for extra utensils and other articles for use by a patron. It will be understood that the use of the drawer 2| is designed to prevent the deposit of crumbs and the like upon the floor behind the panel I3.

As particularly illustrated, open trays l2i! of relatively small size extend over the table top from the bottom of the door ,l1 at opposite .sides of its opening VVIS. The trays 22, which Yare at least partially overhung by the door shelf 19, are arranged to carry containers for salt and pepper and sugar and other condiments, napkins, etc., said articles being more conveniently placed in the trays 22 when the door is displaced from the panel opening i6.

Preferably, and as shown, the door l'l is .vertically divided at its center to provide sections Il" which are hinged to @the `opposite sides of the opening ii for their inward swinging through a one hundred eighty degree angle to positions opposite the inner panel wall. In this manner, the trays 22 may be disposed for their most convenient loading and unloading and cleaning, while the full area of the table top in the plane of the opening I 6 is exposed for a more complete cleaning than is permitted when the door is closed. A suitable catch means 23 is provided for securing the door sections l' in mutually coplanar relation to close the opening l5.

It will be understood that the described arrangement provides a movable unit and advantageously permits service for the table thereof entirely from one end of the table and through thepanel member which is usable as an inner wall for a booth containing the table. B y providing for service through the panels I3, a series of said panels placed edge to edge may define an aisle or space to which only the waiter has access, while keeping the waiter on the floor portion to be used by the patrons. Furthermore,

the provision of the crumb drawer 2l inthe table structure and for receiving material which is brushed or otherwise moved over the fully exposed table top along a clearing thereof is understood to be of particular advantage in public eating places by keeping the material on the floor.

From the vforegoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and use of the present table unit will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. While I have described the features and principles of operation of an assembly which I now consider to 4comprise a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the showing is primarily illustrative,

git

and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A table unit arranged for use by a seated person comprising a table top, a Wall panel of greater width than the table top supporting an end of the table top, said panel extending to a height above the level of the eyes of an adult person seated at the table and below the plane of vision of a waiter standing adjacent it and provided with a service opening extending upwardly to the panel top from the top plane of the table top, and a displaceable closure for said opening contiguous with the table top suriace thereat and extending to a lesser height than the panel to facilitate service operations at the table by the standing Waiter over it and through the opening portion above it.

2. A structure in accordance with claim 1 having the closure comprising `cooperative sections hinged to the panel at opposite sides of the service opening for their mutually independent Swinging out of the opening.

3. A table unit comprising a table top disposed for its use by persons'seated beside it, kan upright screening panel wider than the table top and having the table top supportedly fixed to it -intermediate its width, the top of said panel being horizontally disposed at a level approximately that of the eyes of an adult, said person seated beside the table, said panel being provided with a service opening extending from the table top to the panel top, and a closure for said opening extending upwardly Vfrom the table top and displacable .from the, opening t0 provide for .Certain Service Operations at the table therethrough- 4. In combination with a refreshment table supported at an appropriate height for the use Of its top by a .Seated person to be Served by a standing attendant, an upright partition panel of appreciably greater width than the table top disposed across a table top endto bound the table top thereat and dening a side of a service area for the table at the opposite side of the panel from the table, said panel having its top adjacent the level of the eyes of an adult person seated at the table and being provided with an interior service opening no wider than the table top and extending frm the tabletop to the panel top to permit ser-vice operations at the table therethrough by an attendant standing in the service area.

5. A structure in accordance with claim 4 having a displaceable closure member in said opening extending from the table top to an intermediate level in the opening to provide for service operations by the standing attendant over it and through the opening portion above it and provided with a shelf at its top.

6. A structure in accordance with claim 4 having a displaceable closure member in said opening and extending from the table top to an intermediate level in the opening to provide for service operations by the standing attendant over it and through the opening portion above it and provided with a notch extending upwardly from its bottom edge to permit the brushing of crumbs directly therethrough and into the service area bv the attendant.

ARTHUR. T. JORY. 

